Control apparatus



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,790

- v H. c. JENKS CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Hare/d G Jen/r5.

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD O. JENKS, OF VJILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed May 25, 1925.

This invention relates to controllers primarily designed for use with directcurrent dynamo-electric machines.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision of a controller that shall be simple and efficient in operation and readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention to provide for controlling a dynamo-electrlc machine to eflect its rotation and acceleration in either direction by the actuation of controller-operating members disposed for independent operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the operation of only one controller-- actuating member at a time.

- Other objects-of the invention will in part beobvious and in part appear hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and comprises the combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of a controller constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing details of the construction; and I Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the controller connected for controlling the operation of a generator.

Referring now to the drawing, my controller comprises a frame, shown generally at 10, which carries a plurality of sets of contact members 11 and 12. In order to establish predetermined circuits to be setforth hereinafter, a plurality of drum members 13, 1 1 and 15, carrying contact segments 16 to 18, inclusive, respectively, are disposed for oscillatory movement to engage the contact members 11 and 12.

In order to mount the drum members, two

Serial No. 32,534.

are square, thereby facilitating the fixing of the drum members thereon, while the end sections are cylindrical. The end sections may thus be mounted in any hearing or used to support the central drum member 14 in such manner that it may be rotated independently of them.

In this particular construction, to facilitate assemblage, bearings 21 of the split type are provided on opposite sides of the frame 10 to receive the outer ends of the shafts. Furthermore, each shaft is provided with a bushing 24 which fits over the square portion andwhich is adapted to be rotatably mounted in openings formed in uprights 22 that are provided on the frame 10.

As will be observed, the drum members 13 and 15 are respectively provided with hubs having openings therein shaped to receive the squared portions of the shafts 19 and 20. In this manner, the drum members 13 and 15 may be set in various positions relative to one another and to the shafts l9 and 20. However, in this construction, the drum members 13 and 15 are located in alinement.

The central drum member 14 is provided with a hub portion 14L having an opening extending therethrough for the reception of the inner ends of the shafts 19 and 20. Therefore, the drum members are all disposed for oscillation about a common axis. In order to oscillate the drum members 13 and 15, a pair of treadles 25 are mounted near the outer ends of the shafts 19 and 20, respectively. Each treadle is provided with an opening shaped to receive the squared portions of the shafts 19 and 20 in such manner that rigid connection between the shafts 19 and 20 and the corresponding treadle may be efiected.

The drum members 13 and 15 are disposed for independent operation upon the actuation of the corresponding treadle. In order to effect oscillation of the central drum member 14;, it is provided with two outwardlyextending end lugs 26, which are disposed to aline with lugs 2'7 and 28 that are provided on thedrum members 13 and 15, respectively. Accordingly, upon the actuation of either of the drum members 13 and 15, the central drum member 14 is operated, thereby providing for the operation of the drum members in two groups, with the drum member 14 common to each group.

When a controller of this type is used for. accelerating and reversing motors, the-contact members are arranged so that upon the operationof one treadle, the motor is rotated in one direction, while upon the and the cams are disposed relative to one another in such manner that when one cam 1s operated, the convex face 32 of the actuated cam moves along the concave face 33 of against operation.

. Each cam is provided with an outwardlyextending arm 34. As shown in Fig. 1, the drum members 13 and 15 are respectively provided with yokes 35 that engage the arms 34 of the corresponding cams. In this manner, an effective interlocking between the treadles 25 is secured.

In order to retain the drum members in their ofi' positions, springs 36 are interposed between posts 37 that are provided on the frame 10 and lugs 38 that are formed on the central drum member 14. Since the drum member 14 is connected to the drum members 13 and 15 through the lugs 26, 27 and 28, the rotation of the drum member 14 to its off position effects the rotation of the drum members 13 and 15 to their oft posithe stationarv cam/thus locking the latter 7 tions also.

Referring to Fig. 4, a controller embodying my invention is shown connected for governing the energization of a field winding 40 of a generator 39, which is adapted to drive a motor 39.

In the particular construction illustrated, five contact fingers 11 are provided and, in the interest of clearness of description, these contact fingers hereinafter will be designated as 42 to 46, inclusive.

The contact finger 43 isv connected to positive terminalof any suitable source 41 of electrical energy and to the two contact fingers 12. It will be observed that the contact finger 43is so positioned that it con tinuously engages the contact segment 17. The, contact fingers 42 and 46 are disposed to engage the contact. segments 18 and 16, respectively, when the drum members 15 and 13 are actuated. It is also pointed out that the contact fingers 12 are continuously in engagement with the contact segments 16 and 18.

The generator field winding 40 is conthe 7 nected in series relation with a resistor 51 across the terminals of the source of supply 41. As will be observed, four unit switches, V V

of the current flowing in the field winding. The actuating coils of the switches 48 and 48 are connected in parallel relation between the contact finger 42 and the negative terminal of the source of supply 41, while the actuating coils of the switches 47 and 47 are connected in parallel relation between the contact finger 46 and the negative terminal of the source of supply 41.

Two unit switches 49 and 50 are provided for cutting the resistor 51 out of the genera tor fieldcircuit in steps. Aswill be ob- 'served,-the actuating coils of these switches 49 and 50 are connected between the contact fingers 44 and 45, respectively and the negative terminal of the source of supply 41.

Assume that it is desired to deliver power to effect the rotation of the motor 39 in'the forward direction. The treadle 25 (located on. the left, as viewed in Fig. 1) is operated, thereby actuating the drum members 15 and 14 to project the contact segment 16, which is carried by the drum member 15, into engagement with the contact finger 46. Current now flows from the positive terminal ofthe source of supply 41 through the contact finger 43 and the contactfinger 12 that is in engagement with the contact segment 16, contact finger 46, the actuating coils of the switches 47 and 47 which are connected in parallel relation, and back to the source of supply.

When the switches 47 and 47 are closed,

current flows from the positive terminal of fa the source of supply 41 through switch 47, generator field winding 40, switch 47 resistor 51 and back to the negative terminal of the source of supply. In this manner, current is caused to flow in the desired direction to effect the proper rotation of the motor 39.

Upon theoperation of the drum member 15, thecan'rmember 30 is operated to lock the cam 29 against operation and thereby lock the drum member 13, as previously described.

The drum member 14 is disposed to oscillate simultaneously with the drum member bers 14 and 15 are returned to their 011" The positions-by the springs 36. The return of the drum member 15 to its off position rotates the cam 30 about its pivot point to release the cam 29.

The treadle 25 on the right of the controller, as viewed in Fig. 1, is now operated, thereby oscillating the drum member 13 to project the contact segment 18 into engagement with the contact finger 42. In this manner, the actuating coils of the switches 48 and 48 are energized and the switches closed. Current now flows from the source of supply 41 through the switch 48, generator field winding 40, switch 48 and the resistor 51 back to the negative terminal of the source of supply. This reversal of the curent in the generator field winding and the consequent reversalof the generated voltage causes the motor 39 to rotate in the opposite direction.

The resistor 51 is then cut out of the fieldwinding circuit step-by-step in a manner described above.

lVhile the controller is shown connected to control the operation of a generator, it will be readily understood that it may also be used for controlling the direction of flow of current through a motor field Winding, such as that of the motor 39 to thereby control the direction of rotation of the motor.

Since various changes may be made in the above-described construction and arrangement of parts, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A controller for accelerating and re versing a dynamo-electric machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of movablymounted contact members disposed for actuation to. effect the reversal of the machines, means cooperative to actuate the contact members in two groups, some of said contact members being common to both groups, means adapted to prevent the actuation of predetermined members of one group during the operation of the other group, and independent actuating means for each group of contact members.

2. In a controller, a plurality of movablymounted contact members disposed for operation in two groups, some of said contact members being common to both groups, independent actuating means for each group of contact members, and means co-operative to lock the actuating means of one group of contact members during the operation of the other group.

3. In a controller for accelerating and reversing a dynamo-electric machine, in combination, a plurality of movably-mounted contact members disposed for operation in two groups, treadles for actuating the groups of contact members separately to effect the reversing of the machines, and means cooperative to lock one treadle during the operation of the other treadle,

4. In a controller for accelerating and reversing a dynamoelectric machine, in combination, a plurality of movably-mounted contact members disposed for operation in two groups, treadles for actuating the groups of contact members separately to effeet the reversing oi the machines, and means co-operative to lock one treadle during the operation of the other treadle, said treadles being disposed for movement in the same direction to actuate corresponding groups of contact members.

5. In a controller for accelerating and reversing a dynamo-electric machine, in combination, a plurality of drum members disposed for oscillatory movement, contact members carried by the drum members cooperative to effect the control of said machine, treadles for actuating the drum members in two groups, some of the segments being common to both groups, and means disposed for actuation upon the operation of one treadle to effect the locking of the other treadle.

6. In a controller for accelerating and reversing a dynamo-electric machine, in combination, three drum members disposed for oscillatory movement about a common axis, means for actuating the end members in dependently, means for actuating the central member with either end member, and contact members carried by the drum members.

7. In a controller for accelerating and reversing a. dynamo-electric machine, in combination, three drum members disposed for oscillatory movement about a common axis, means for actuating the end members independently, means for actuating the central member With either end member, means for locking one end member during the operation of the other end member, and contact members carried by said drum members.

8. In a controller for accelerating and reversing a dynamo-electric machine, in combination, three drum members disposed for oscillatory movement about a common axis, means for actuating the end members independently, means'for actuating the central member with either end member, means for locking one end member during the operation of the other end member, and contact members carried by said drum members, the contact members carried by the ends members bein disposed to effect the reversing of said machine.

9. In a controller, in combination, a plurality of drum members disposed for oscillation, treadles for actuating predtermined members independently of one another,

means for actuating another drum member with each of said independently-actuated members, and means for locking predetermined drum members during the operation of theother drum members.

and means disposed for actuation upon the operation of one group of contact members to lock another group in a predetermined position. i r V 11. In a controller, in combination, a .plurality of movably mounted contact members disposed for operation in groups, one contact member of each group being common to another group, means for actuating the groups of contact members, means for returning the contact'members to a predetermined position When' the actuating means is released, and means actuated upon the operation of any group of contact members adapted to lock'another group.

12. In a controller, in combination, a plurality of contact members disposed for oscillatory movement about a common axis, said contact members being disposed for operation in groups, one contact member of each group being common to another group,

means for oscillating the groups of contact members, means for turning the contact members to a predetermined positlon when the actuating means 1s released, and means actuated upon the oscillation of any group HAROLD c. JENKS 

